Robotic Surgery

Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System has offered minimally invasive surgery options using the state-of-the-art da Vinci® Surgical System since October 2008. This technology enhances the ability of surgeons on our medical staff to perform minimally invasive procedures. Studies show that patients whose surgery is performed using minimally invasive techniques often require a shorter hospital stay, have a reduced risk of infection, less blood loss, and a quicker recovery and return to daily activities.

The robotic surgery system offers doctors several advantages in performing minimally invasive surgeries. First, the system uses two cameras rather than one as with laparoscopy (using a scope and a single camera), giving surgeons a three-dimensional view of the area being operated on. Second, it magnifies the area by ten times as opposed to two-and-a-half times with the traditional camera. Third, the arms of robot feature hinges that are close to the tips of surgical instruments enabling it to rotate completely, unlike a human wrist which can only turn so far.

Using the da Vinci Surgical System, one surgeon performs the operation while seated at a console viewing a three-dimensional image of the area. The surgeon moves the master controls and the system seamlessly translates the surgeon's hand, wrist and finger movements into precise, real-time movements of surgical instruments inside the patient. A second surgeon monitors the patient during the entire procedure and is prepared to assist manually whenever needed.

At Salinas Valley Memorial, the robotic system is used in gynecology and urology procedures as well as oncology and general surgeries.